The U-boat was one of the most potent weapons of the twentieth century, and in this book one of the world's leading U-boat historians explains how the German submarine was developed and designed and then deployed to wreak havoc in European waters and further afield in the Atlantic and Far East. This is not a dry technical study but a work that looks behind the scenes at the men who built and fought in them. While the boats themselves are described, Mallmann Showell paints a broader picture of life in the U-boat arm. Weapons systems, operational areas, bases, builders and fleet organization are covered, and as well as dealing with the world wars, the author covers today's German navy and brings the story up to date with a full description of the third, latest generation of U-boats. The text is augmented by some 400 photographs, many never before published. The book's publication coincides with the centenary of the launch of Germany's first U-boat in August 1906. It is an essential addition to the library of every modern naval historian and enthusiast.